Restoration: The Memphis Belle
For this famous B-17, surviving 25 missions in World War II was the easy part.
- By Mark Bernstein
- Air & Space magazine, November 2008
After 25 missions, the crew and the Belle went on a War Bonds tour, stopping at Patterson Field in Ohio. Recalling the tour decades later, Commander Robert Morgan wrote: "In today's lingo, our uniforms were dazzling 'chick magnets.'"
USAF
Two years ago, Roger Deere traveled to an eastern Ohio coal town, where he visited a four-room Sears pre-fabricated house whose ceiling bowed down from the weight of all the stuff in the attic. The homeowner had died; a relative poking through the accumulation had run across something he thought might be of interest to Deere. Along with everything else, the attic contained the radio equipment for a B-17 bomber.
Deere did not ask how radio equipment got into the attic. He did not want an explanation; he wanted the equipment.
In time, it will be placed in the Memphis Belle, a Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress now being restored at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, where Deere is the chief of the restoration division.
During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces required heavy-bomber crews to complete 25 missions before they could go home. In 1943, having flown over France, Belgium, and Germany, the Memphis Belle crew became one of the first to reach that goal. After returning to the States in June 1943, the bomber and many of its crew served as the centerpiece of a 31-city War Bonds tour. Academy Award-winning director William Wyler documented the Belle’s service in a 41-minute color film (Europe.
The bomber retains its fame today. Those too young to remember it from the war may know its story from the fictionalized 1990 movie Memphis Belle, or from the B-17 (used in that movie) that now tours airshows in Belle markings.
The real Belle owes its present-day survival to a combination of romance and civic pride. In 1946, it was sitting with hundreds of other B-17s in Altus, Oklahoma, ready to be chopped up for scrap. A newspaper reporter learned of its fate and told Memphis mayor Walter Chandler; Chandler bought the B-17, originally costing $314,000, for the $350 salvage price as a way to honor the city’s namesake (“Memphis Belle” is a tribute to resident Margaret Polk, the pilot’s girlfriend). But after six decades, local groups concluded they could not raise the funds to complete a needed restoration. In 2004, the Air Force announced plans to relocate the aircraft to its national museum and finish restoring it.
The next year, two convoys trucked the disassembled aircraft to the cluttered World War II-era hangars that now house the restoration effort. When, five or more years from now, the work is complete, the museum will permanently display the Belle to visitors.
In 25 missions the Memphis Belle had its tail splintered, five engines shot out, and its body pocked with hundreds of holes from German flak. The worst damage, however, came in peacetime: Vandals made off with almost everything not fastened down; “Sometimes they pried things off the walls,” says Deere. The Belle is now missing most of the interior: the pilot, copilot, and navigator seats, the control yokes, and much more.
Finding replacements is difficult. While the United States built 13,700 B-17s, fewer than 100 remain. “There are structural parts we’re never going to find unless somebody runs across a B-17 sitting out in a field somewhere,” Deere says.
Comments (39)
I hope that as much attention is paid to the exterior paint application as all the radio equipment inside. Too many of the so called B-17 restorations have had the wrong color and the wrong configuration of the exterior paint. Nine-O-Nine is incorrect with the grey-green color and the wrong grey on the underside AND glossy. These airplanes were not glossy, they were dull. The grey under surface was a medium grey not the lighter mouse grey that the modern Air Force uses. There was a specific pattern to the paint on the nacelles and everybody gets it wrong. The tail numbers (military serial) were chrome yellow not white. Squadron markings were white and some times grey. I have Boeing drawings that show how to apply the paint and I have FS 595 that shows the correct colors for the exterior paint. Lets hope that they get this one correct.
Posted by Robert Parks on September 18,2008 | 12:29 AM
Robert Parks, have you contacted the Air Force Museum and offer your services? http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/
Being a member of the Air Force Museum for some time, I can tell you that they do they research very thoroughly when restoring anything. But if you have additional information, I am sure that they would be interested.
Posted by GIF on September 21,2008 | 12:14 AM
Hey ya'll, I'm a big military history guy, I rode on the Collings Foundation's Forttress, the B-17 is my favorite bird. This kind of stuff is very near and dear to my heart. So ya'll keep it up, and God Bless.
Posted by Daniel Cook on October 2,2008 | 10:17 PM
Was wondering what parts are still missing and if original bomb release switch has been found. Jody
Posted by JODY HARKER on October 8,2008 | 05:00 PM
Pre fab parts from orig B17 plans using CAD CAE & for ALL WW2 COMBAT PLANES, Korean War era combat jets.
Very doable.
Imagine biofuel improved engines powering B17F
Nice.
Radical.
More jobs.
Posted by Stephen Russell on December 1,2008 | 12:09 AM
Having lived in the Dayton/Cincinnati area for more than 30 years and having watched the USAF museum expand and grow during that period of time, I can attest to the attention to accuracy and level of detail that is now going on by the museum staff.
Consider this: The USAF museum could potentially possess three B-17s that participated in combat in two theaters of operation during WWII: B-17D "Swoose", B-17F "Memphis Belle" and B-17G "Shoo Shoo Baby". Unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be possible, as Shoo Shoo Baby will be sent to the Smithsonian upon exhibition of the 'Belle.
Sure would be nice if we could find a way to keep them all together....
Posted by Reagan A. Page on January 9,2009 | 04:09 PM
Having lived in the Dayton/Cincinnati area for more than 30 years and having watched the USAF museum expand and grow during that period of time, I can attest to the attention to accuracy and level of detail that is now going on by the museum staff.
Consider this: The USAF museum could potentially possess three B-17s that participated in combat in two theaters of operation during WWII: B-17D "Swoose", B-17F "Memphis Belle" and B-17G "Shoo Shoo Baby". Unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be possible, as Shoo Shoo Baby will be sent to the Smithsonian upon exhibition of the 'Belle.
Sure would be nice if we could find a way to keep them all together....
Posted by Reagan A. Page on January 9,2009 | 04:09 PM
Last week the Collings Foundation planes were at St.Pete Clearwater airport.The B17and the B24 plus this year they had a P51 there also.We live very close to the field so they flew over the house a few times.My hair would stand on end every time they did.Love the sound of those engines.
Posted by joe ross on January 29,2009 | 12:04 PM
Back in the early 70's got to fly formation on a 17 while being a spotter for fire patrol. Fun !
43 yrs flying 22,000 hrs.
Posted by Dave Albright on January 29,2009 | 10:50 PM
As an original pilot in the "Bloody Hundredth" Bomb Group flying B-17s out of England in 1943, I have the greatest respect for the crew of the "Memphis Belle" & especially for the Boeing Flying Fortress. There are only 12 of these magnificent a/c still flyable in the world & a few more that are on static display anywhere, but restoring one today is virtually impossible due to lack of authentic parts & equipment.
So, enjoy what is available & pray that some semblance of the real thing will remain for posterity.
Lucky Luckadoo
Posted by John H. "Lucky" Luckadoo on February 2,2009 | 06:52 PM
Most people today do not know that the 8th Air Force, the "Mighty Eigth" lost approximately 10,000 airplanes and 30,000 crew killed."Lucky" Luckadoo was one of 4 replacement's in the "Bloody 100th" to make it for his obligatory number of missions.
Posted by Charles "Tad" Foran on February 3,2009 | 11:49 AM
I have seen the work done in the Airforce Musieum shops and I have no doubt that the Memphis Belle will look as good as you can possibly make it. I was honored to see the facility a few years ago and I wish I could work there.
Posted by Ralph Miller on February 4,2009 | 04:33 PM
To Lucky, Tad and others who were there:
Thank you so much for the service you gave during our country's darkest hour. I am in owe of each and every one of you that served on the ground, sea and in the air! You were, and always will be, the Greatest Generation. My father was a bombider with the RCAF during the war. He often times would tell me about his experiences but I was too young and cocky to care. He passed away long before I came to understand and appreciate the sacerfices you all made. I am now 57 and I make sure I tell my children and grand children what you all went through to save the world. Thank you also for working so hard on these type of projects and also reminding us of the wonderful men and women we still have amoung us like you did above Ted. Bless you all and I can assure you, your efforts were not in vain. You are my heros.
Steve Moyer
Detroit, MI
Posted by Steve Moyer on February 4,2009 | 08:38 PM
Keep up the great work and history going on these great birds. My dad, WWII army veteran now deceased, told me how he once saw the sky filled with B-17's from one horizon to the other, we watched "12-o'clock high" back in the 60's, I got inside one with the engines running before an airshow just outside of Indianapolis, and love to hear those very distinctive sounding engines roar over our house at least once a year. Too bad we can't restore more of these great pieces of our history so more people could appreciate them! God Bless everyone working on these projects for future generations!
Posted by Jim Rosa on February 8,2009 | 07:34 PM
I was a very young boy when the greatest generation flew these bombers over Germany. I had 12 older cousins who served in the armed services during the war and I worried about all of them but did not understand the courage all of them had to serve. One of them was a navigator on a B-17 and he was kind enough to arrange for a guided tour of the base in England that he flew out of. It was most interesting and I take my hat off to all of the people who flew in those planes. We should do everything we can to never forget what they did for us.
Posted by Don Thorpe on June 23,2009 | 04:56 PM
I flew 25 combat missions in the European theatre. I have visited many museums and have viewed many B-17s including the Wright-Patterson AFB Museum recently (August 2009) and have seen those restorations. It definitely took me back to 1944, when our B-17 F brought us home safely every mission.
I have recently flown in the B-17 "Yankee Lady" sitting at my radio position for the first time since 1945. It made me 22 years of age all over again.
Posted by LARRY GOLDSTEIN on September 8,2009 | 04:28 PM
I flew on the 1st. mission flown, the 91st. Bomb Group.
November 7, 1942.
I was Ball Turret gunner, on Luftwaffe Waterloo.
Steve Perri, Historian, 91st. Bomb Group
Posted by Steve Perri on February 12,2010 | 07:17 PM
My father was a tail gunner on the Luftwaffe Waterloo 2
I'm looking for anyone or any information about this plane.
I've tried to get info from the gov, but was told a fire destroyed most of the records regarding my father's service history.
Posted by Clark Ehrhardt on March 27,2010 | 04:34 PM
My grandfather was a ball-turret gunner on the B-17 Luftwaffe's Waterloo. The picture is here and is a great one. Clark, Your father Ben was a top-turret gunner with my grandfather. Please feel free to email me and I can give you more inforamtion including a copy of the picture.
a_cressman@yahoo.com
Posted by Artie Cressman on March 31,2010 | 01:30 PM
In the 60's, I grew up about a mile from where the Memphis Belle was displayed at the the National Guard Armory in Memphis.
As a kid, I remember playing in the aircraft, when it was occasionally open...
Really glad to see it being restored and on display at the museum!!
Posted by Mark Williams on May 24,2010 | 10:24 AM
i haave tried to read everything i can about this aircraft, and when one arrives at the field in anoka mnm. i find a waay to go see it, and go inside to feel some of what the crew had to feel. i realiz that i have to imagtine what they experienced on a mission, and the discomfort that they went through. God bless all of the memories that they left behind. Eugene A Turner
Posted by Eugene A Tturner on August 1,2010 | 09:56 PM
I was visiting Memphis in 2005, around memorial day. My girlfriend and I had done the obligatory visit to Graceland and then we were going to visit the "Memphis Belle" on Mud Island. When we arrived we were told it was taken somewhere else for restoration...I was a little dissappointed but much like our war hero sitting in her birth at San Jacinto(Battle Ship Texas), I was glad she was being taken care of....however that being so, our Hero needs help too. We just can't seem to find the "cash" to restore these momuments to all those young men who gave all....sad.
Thank you WWII veterans.....and thank you to the real heroes, the ones who did not come home.
Ron Rigell/Dawn Goodman Houston and Austin..Texas
Posted by Ron Rigell & Dawn Goodman on August 3,2010 | 11:58 AM
In the year 2000 I was priviliged to take my then 15 yr old son to see the Belle, we had the honour to "fly" a mission together. True there were no roaring engines, no destructive flak, nor deadly fighters but there was and still is my imagination and the memory of that day with my son. Back then the Belle was static on MUD ISLAND and almost restored, she was beautiful and shall always be that to me, I grew up within a few miles of her display at the National Guard armory and went to see her many times always wondering what it was like though I have never had the pleasure of taking a flight in a B-17 I hope to have that honour before I die, I am 54 now and when I see one or hear ones 4 Wright Pattersons running I go back to those days of yesterday when Americans had pride, integerity and the guts to stand up for Our freedoms. God Bless America!
Posted by Rodger Williams-Hoffman on August 13,2010 | 11:30 AM
God bless America
and american engineering and ingenuity Boeing Aircraft has always set the standard and always will for americas military and civilian aircraft the B-24, B-17, B-29, B-36, B-52... shall i go on? The B-17 was one hell of an aircraft and it brought alot of our boys back home again all shot to hell but still flying nuff said.We need to preserve this history and our heritage regardless the cost. It's too precious to lose.
Posted by J P Irvin on October 11,2010 | 12:19 AM
I too love these old war birds. Since I was a little boy I have built models, and I just finished the Memphis Belle B-17 by Revell. I am now 50 and can't get enough of WWII aircraft. I go to every air show I can. I have flown in a B-25 and a 17 is next on my wish list. The raw power of those engines is unbelievable. I thank veterans every day for their service to our great country. God Bless!
Posted by Byron Jones on December 24,2010 | 11:11 AM
So glad to find out the Belle will be pristine again. I have made two vists to the Museum in the past and can't wait to see the new restorations finished since last time.I was assigned to 2nd BW, Eighth AF(SAC) in Savannah Georgia in early 60s and loved hearing the "old timers" talk about their love for the '17. Best wishes and thanks to everyone involved in the restoration of this wonderful piece of our heritage and history. God bless America and all those who love and defend her!
Posted by Barry W Myers on May 28,2011 | 05:44 PM
I work with a small group restoring a B17E, and I can tell you, if you cant find it, you have to make it, if its damaged you have to make it, and if you take it apart, make sure you tag it so someone knows where it goes. These were the best bombers in WWII, though they didn't carry as many bombs as other planes, they were very tough planes, some came home with most of the tail gone, and one that I know of that barely had anything holding the tail on after an enemy fighter crashed into the plane. We are working off copies of copies of the original service manuals and blue prints, some are so dark all detail is lost. I myself am working on bulkhead 3 trying to find where all the original pieces go. It's not that we don't have them, its that this particular plane was modified during the war and has extra parts we don't want to put back in.
Posted by Todd on August 26,2011 | 11:42 PM
Does anyone have a picture of the Data plate from the B-17F being restored in Dayton? It says 124485 on the tail, but so do so many other B-17s...... I would like to see a photo of the Metal Data plate that is stamped: Boeing
Aircraft 41-24485. Please let me know, or e-mail me a picture of this plate: tomcat_573 [at] yahoo.com. I would like to see evidence that for once, I am looking at the REAL B-17F named "Memphis Belle". I'm sure it is the real Belle; I just want to see the stamped plate that states this.
I am not a critic, but a Belle fanatic, and an aircraft mechanic by trade.
Thank you for your time. I salute the efforts of those who bring these machines back to life.
Posted by Chad Corrin on February 11,2012 | 10:13 AM
I enjoyed reading the article about a plane with a brave crew.
Posted by Geoffrey Sutton on June 7,2012 | 08:12 PM
My Dad, David Scarborough, flew this plane in training, maybe at McDill Field, back when their motto was "A Plane a Day in Tampa Bay"! Apparently they were flying some 'weary' aircraft.
Dad's response to flying this plane-every time he told the story-focused more on it's condition. As you report, and he told me, the Memphis Belle had been flown around to sell war bonds, and he was quite upset about it's condition. Apparently it had been graffitied and not treated with respect by many of it's visitors. I'm pretty sure that violated the standard of care the crew would have had for their aircraft. One you took care of it because you depended upon it for you life. 2nd you didn't vandalize goverment property....
Someday maybe I can see the restored plane and look at photos of the graffiti. I can see it how my Dad say it as he walked through. I'm sure is heart would have been proud
to have seen it restored.
Thanks so much for bringing this back!
The Best,
Gary S.
Posted by Gary Scarborough on June 18,2012 | 06:51 PM
I've just been reading about the restoration, and would like to say how wonderful I think it is that The Belle is still around, and is being restored. She holds a big place in my heart. I do hope the restorers will not strip the original markings either side of the nose of the plane, and then re paint them back on. It would be nice to look at them and know they were still the original markings done all those years ago.
I'm also greatly saddened to hear that she sat around for years being vandalized. It would be fantastic to have those original seats back, that were sat in by the crew, or any of the instrument panels or switches.
If anybody reading this is responsible for the removal of any of the original parts of the plane, I can only assume you wanted a souvenir because you love her as much as we all do. So please, do the decent thing, give them back, you don't need them. Please return them so they can be reunited with her once more, and she can live on to be appreciated by generations to come.
Posted by Jess on August 12,2012 | 12:29 PM
Was officiating a soccer match in Memphis this weekend, when to my surprise a B-17 took off from behind the trees circled the complex and landed again. I saw it 3 more time that weekend. Could it be that the bird is flight worthy again already?
Posted by Matt Baxter on October 21,2012 | 05:36 PM
We were fortunate to go through the restoration hangar a couple weeks ago and to see first hand the tremendous efforts required to put this airplane into "museum quality" condition. The inboard wings/engines/nacelles are attached. The top and ball turrets are very close to completion...machine guns are being assembled, etc.
"Painstaking" falls far short in describing their efforts! For example, on some WW1 aircraft, there is a twist lock to retain panels, cowls, etc. The museum staff makes new ones...a task requiring twelve, hand built dies and eight pieces of metal. Just to make a retainer not much bigger than a postage stamp! When people tour the museum, one can only hope they reflect on such efforts.
We fully understand the difficulties involved in this because we are part of a crew building a new B-17G, Champaign Lady (44-85813), in Urbana, OH. It is a great honor to be a small part of this effort to get another B-17 in the air as a way to pay tribute to ALL veterans. It has been very humbling to have met so many veterans who have walked through our museum...if not for them, the world would be a very different place.
Posted by Robert Buchwalter on November 20,2012 | 09:14 AM
World War II is my favorite era of American history. Soon to be 48 years old, I have utmost respect for the men and women who fought for our country through whatever means they could provide. It does my heart good to read all of the above comments, especially from those in my peer group who have apparent love of country and loyalty to the US such as our ancestors possessed.
Having just finished watching The Memphis Belle movie, I wanted to see some original pictures of the B17 and its crew. I'm delighted to find that one day I can actually travel to see the plane in Ohio! Thank you for restoring her as best you can! Our country is in your debt.
I love our country and feel proud when I read remarks like all of you have shared. We still have some of that spark left by the Greatest Generation!
Diedra Barrett
Posted by Diedra Barrett on January 24,2013 | 10:31 AM
I am 78 yrs old born in Scotland and have seen the hell of war. The men who flew in those B-17s were god given for our survival they sacrificed with one thought in mind: FREEDOM. I believe God's holy spirit was with those gallant young men.
Posted by bert saville on March 7,2013 | 12:09 PM
I am wondering will Memphis Belle just be on static show or will it be restored so it is airworthy ?.
I am in the U.K I went to a show in the U.K last year "Sally B" could not fly at the show I went to last year due to restrictions with air space as the Olympic Games were due to take place .
I still managed to see the Battle of Britain Memorial flight though , it was fantastic to see the British heavy Avro Lancaster " Phantom Of The Ruhr" , I hope I will be able to see "Sally B" in the air this year . I will be going to Thorpe Abbotts in Norfolk to see the 351st Sq 100Bg museum
Lest not forget
John David Mackley Hall
Essex
England
Posted by John Hall on April 8,2013 | 12:33 PM
I first saw the Memphis Belle in January, 1971 in front of a National Guard Armory in a short visit to Memphis when I was on my way home from the Army. I was told by an employee there that it was basically a derelict shell that was vandalized many times until it was put on a cement column and ringed with a barbed wire fence. It was a sad site. I saw it again on another visit to Memphis in 2003, where it was at least placed under a canopy and located at Mud Island. But it had a terrible attempt at a restoration with a poor paint job, missing items and an incorrect nose canopy and upper turret. Thankfully, the Air Force rescued it for a hopefully authentic and detailed restoration. From the looks of things, that is well on its way to being accomplished. Perhaps the National Museum of the USAF can also clear up which WW II B-17 actually was the first to complete the required 25 missions. From most accounts, the 'Belle' was the first to return to the USA after completing 25 missions, but not the first to actually complete 25.
Posted by Mike McCarty on April 10,2013 | 12:59 PM
I'll have to keep up on the restoration. Would love to take my Brother-in-law to see it when done.
His name is Richard Hanson of Spokane Washington.
He happens to be Robert Hanson's Son, the radio operator on the Belle.
Keep up the good work.
Dennis
Posted by Dennis Heine on April 14,2013 | 09:10 PM
The restoration of the Memphis Belle is a must for preserving the history of the planes, flight, and ground crews that helped win the war. Thank you to ALL who work day in and day out to put the Belle back into shape so that many generations can see and appreciate such a fantastic airplane.
I am honored to be a member of the Commemerative Air Force - Arizona Wing. We have the responsibility of maintaining and sharing with many generations a B-17G named "Sentimental Journey".
This summer the Aizona wing will fly "Sentimental Jouney" along with our B-25 "Made in the Shade" to many stops across the country. This is an opportunity for people to see the planes close up and even take a flight and experience just a small part of what our WWII flight crews experienced.
* Check out our website to see a list of cities we will visit during the 2013 tour season. WWW.AZCAF.org
During the 2012 tour season, I had the honor to visit and chat with WWII veterans at the 8th Air Force reunion in San Antonio. Thank You to all the crews who served during WWII to protect our country.
God Bless all USA Veterans.
Posted by Sean on May 3,2013 | 12:35 PM